Robert Wilkinson

Robert Bliss Wilkinson (22 July 1837 – 26 April 1928) was an English-born Australian politician and successful businessman who was one of two parliamentary members for the New South Wales electorate of Balranald from December 1880 to June 1894. Wilkinson had experience in banking and as a pastoralist and from 1869 he and his brother-in-law and partner James S. Lavender engaged in business at Wagga Wagga as stock and station agents and auctioneers. The profitable business established branch offices at Hay, Sydney and Bourke. Wilkinson was the senior partner and the managing director after the business was formed into a limited liability company.

Biography

Early years

Robert Bliss Wilkinson was born on 22 July 1837 at Northampton, England, the second son of David Wilkinson and Elizabeth (née Bliss). Robert's father was a civil engineer by profession.

Young Robert was educated at Hanwell College in west London, under the care of Rev. Dr. Emerton, a school specialising in educating boys who intended to enter military careers.

As a 15 year-old Wilkinson arrived in Victoria in November 1852 with his family, at "the height of gold fever". He "experienced a share of the many hardships and privations attendant on the then unsettled state of colonial life". In 1853 Wilkinson entered into service with the Bank of Victoria and was employed "for some years" in branch offices on the Castlemaine and Maryborough diggings. He was later employed in the Union Bank in Melbourne.

Wilkinson and Lavender became business partners and in 1863 they set out for the Wagga Wagga district on the Murrumbidgee River in the eastern Riverina region of New South Wales, where they purchased 'Temora' and 'The Rock' stations. In 1864 they purchased the 'Marrar' pastoral run. Later they added 'Yarangobilly' station to their landholdings. The partners made improvements to their runs "and learned much that later proved of great value to them", but by 1868 the country was in severe drought resulting in a decision to sell their properties.

After selling their pastoral runs, Wilkinson and Lavender decided to become stock and station agents. Wilkinson initially engaged in a business partnership with George Forsyth, an established storekeeper and auctioneering and stock and station agent in Wagga Wagga. In April 1869 Lavender purchased a share in the business partnership of George Forsyth and Wilkinson, which continued to trade as George Forsyth and Co. The partnership between Wilkinson and George Forsyth was formally and mutually dissolved in June 1871.

In July 1871 Wilkinson and local businessman Phineas Hann became partners, trading as Wilkinson, Hann, and Co., stock and station agents and auctioneers with an office in Fitzmaurice Street in Wagga.

Advertisement for Wilkinson, Hann, Minchin, and Co., publishing in Wagga Wagga Advertiser, 24 August 1878.

The business established by Wilkinson and Lavender underwent personnel changes throughout the 1870s and 1880s, with new partners being admitted and retiring at various times (but with Wilkinson as the senior partner from 1871).

Wilkinson arrived at Hay in June 1874 to establish a branch of Wilkinson, Hann, Minchin, and Co. there. Wilkinson used the Hay office as the headquarters of the business. In 1878 J. S. Lavender took charge of the Hay office, but Wilkinson was "a frequent visitor, and always kept in personal touch with the Hay district graziers". In October 1879 Warden Harry Graves was admitted as a partner to the business, which then became known as Wilkinson, Graves, Minchin, and Lavender.

Political career

In 1880 Wilkinson decided to contest the New South Wales elections for the Balranald electorate. Under the Electoral Act of 1880 the Balranald electorate was changed from a single member to a two-member electorate. In the lead-up to the election the sitting member Colin Simson announced that he did not intend "to offer himself for re-election".

Four candidates were nominated for the electorate. Wilkinson and John Cramsie, a Balranald storekeeper and shipping agent, campaigned together "as graziers' candidates for the two seats". At the election held in November 1880 Wilkinson was elected as one of the two members to represent the Balranald electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, together with John Cramsie. Wilkinson polled slightly behind Cramsie with 1,002 votes (or 34.5 percent).

Robert Wilkinson and Alice Georgiana Foss Jarrett were married on 15 November 1882 in the Christ Church in South Yarra, Victoria.

Portrait of Robert B. Wilkinson, published in Australian Men of Mark (1889).

At the general election held in December 1882 both Wilkinson and Cramsie were re-elected unopposed to represent the Balranald electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Wilkinson's wife Alice died of typhoid, aged 23, on 9 April 1884 in New South Wales.

In November 1886 Warden Harry Graves retired from the partnership by mutual consent. The business was then carried on by Wilkinson and Lavender (under that name). In September 1889 Wilkinson and Lavender admitted Thomas William Chapman as a partner in the business, which then became known as Wilkinson, Lavender and Chapman.

At the 1887 general election three candidates nominated for the Balranald electorate, Wilkinson (the sitting member and a free trade supporter) and two supporters of protectionism, Allen Lakeman and A. L. P. Cameron. At the election held in February 1887 Wilkinson was re-elected along with Lakeman. Wilkinson polled behind Lakeman with 777 votes (or 33.2 percent). Both Wilkinson and Lakeman were re-elected unopposed at the New South Wales election of February 1889.

Robert Wilkinson and Annie Louisa Leitch were married on 26 February 1890 in the Sydney suburb of Burwood (his second marriage). The couple had three children, two daughters and a son.

Wilkinson decided to retire from politics at the end of his term in June 1894. He was given a public dinner at Hay and received "a substantial presentation". At the dinner it was revealed that Wilkinson was "taking his political farewell" because of an affliction of the eyes and a desire to focus more on his business interests.

Wilkinson was a trustee of the Pastoralists' Union of New South Wales from its inception in 1891 until 1921.

Robert Bliss Wilkinson died on 26 April 1928 at his home, 'Wilga', The Boulevarde, Strathfield, aged 90. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Thomas' Anglican church in Enfield.

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